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Patricia Reding
a book bubble about
Oathtaker
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Author Insight
Firstborns
A fantasy tale requires some world-building. Occasionally I read such a tale that opens with a chapter or more of background and history, setting the stage for the world in which the story is set. I admit: I'm not a fan of the approach. When a story doesn't grab my attention at the start, I may never complete it. Thus, I determined that I'd tell about the world of The Oathtaker Series as things progressed. Often I disclose things through conversations between the characters, or their memories, or reflections. It helps me to draw out unique characteristics of the players, and I believe, keeps readers engaged. In this part of the tale, I begin to set out the meanings behind the birth order of members of the Select. Each sees to an area of life--of family, faith and community--beginning with the firstborns who are responsible for protecting life at every stage. How do you prefer that an author disclose the ways in which his or her fantasy world works?
Book Excerpt
Oathtaker
Let me show you the story this sanctuary tells. We’ll start there.” Ted pointed toward the front of the room and to his right.
Taking Mara’s elbow, he directed her to the window he’d indicated, the first of the three on that side. “This, as you can probably make out, depicts the first of the Select. The first signify new beginnings and birth.”
“A seed just coming to life,” she said. “It’s lovely.”
“Yes. Firsts are responsible for protecting life in all its forms. Of course, there are always more firstborns than any other, and as you probably know, if a family is blessed with more than seven children, the count begins anew. So the next born child—the eighth—is also considered a first.”
The window depicted a yellow-green seedling with healthy roots branching downwards, water droplets surrounding it. Mara reached toward it. The refracted lights danced off her hands and arms.
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